Trend Arabic News Service Head Rufiz Hafizoglu
The French Senate adopted the bill criminalizing the denial of "Armenian genocide". It is interesting that before the bill was considered in the Senate, the 'democratic' pressure was exerted on the senators who were against it for them to refuse from participating in the vote.
Thus, MPs supporting this bill participated in discussing the bill on criminalizing the denial of "Armenian genocide". According to French media, those who were against the bill were instructed not to vote.
Indeed, Sarkozy government's action was not unexpected, standing against Turkey to become a full member of the European Union.
Ankara has been negotiating since 2005. Major reforms were made in the political and economic spheres for its joining the EU as a full member. The logical result was to become Turkey's acceptance into this organization. But along with such serious obstacles to Turkey in this issue, as French and German governments, there was also the recognition of the 1915 events as the so-called "Armenian genocide" that Ankara could not acknowledge in any circumstances.
One can say that adopting the law in accordance with the "democratic" principles, which is based on racism, France closed the 'door' for Turkey to the European Union.
As for the 1915 events in spite of claim of Armenians and the Armenian lobby that it is Turks who are guilty of these events, Armenia has not yet accepted Ankara's suggestion on forming joint commission to investigate those events and on opening of archives.
When carefully studying the 1915 events it becomes obvious that not only Armenians but also great number of Turks died as a result of these events. One of the most interesting points is the fact that unlike claims of Armenians, not only Turks but also Kurds who lived in the Ottoman Empire were involved in these events. MP of Kurdish background from Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) also noted that Kurdish clans played significant role in the 1915 events.
Having adopted law in Armenian interests Paris has lost its political authority and neutrality. France will face boomerang effect and along with "Armenian genocide" which has not yet found its historical justification and will have to recognize facts of true genocides - killing of 1.5 million people in Algeria in 1945-1962 and Khojaly genocide.
During the discussion of the bill criminalizing denial of the so called "Armenian genocide" chairman of the French Senate's commission on bills Jean-Pierre Sueur said if the French Senate adopts a bill Paris will have to recognize other genocides as well.
Taking into consideration that some 500,000 Turks and over 2 million Algerians live in France one can say that sooner or later bill serving interests of Armenians will cause significant split in the French society.
Having adopted the bill Paris seriously hit freedom of speech and expressions and once again proved that France defends Armenia.
It is wrong to characterize decision taken by the French Senate as diplomatic win of Armenia and the Armenian lobby.
In fact adoption of this law is a win of islamophobia in France while "Armenian genocide" and fate of Armenia again have served as a tool in solving own problems of large states.